Watch Out for Ticks
Lyme disease is a bacterial disease spread by ticks. While it is most prevalent in the Northeastern U.S., it has been found in almost every state. The name comes from the place where the disease was first reported, Lyme, Connecticut. Lyme disease affects people and dogs. It is rare in other domestic animals.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted by the bite of ticks, most commonly the black-legged deer tick (Ixodes species). Wooded, brushy areas outdoors are likely locations for these ticks. The tick attaches to a host and feeds on it’s blood. While attached, it can spread Lyme disease through it’s saliva. Research has shown that in most cases, the disease is not transmitted until the tick has been attached to the host for 48 to 72 hours. Lyme disease is not spread directly from one person to another or from a dog to a person.
Symptoms of Lyme disease are rash, fever, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, swollen joints and limping. Some infected dogs do not show any outward symptoms however, the disease can also cause inflammation of the kidneys, and can damage the heart and nervous system in later stages. Some cases of Lyme disease in dogs can be detected on a physical exam, but tests of blood or joint fluid are often needed.
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics like doxycycline. Additional medications may be prescribed to help with pain and inflammation. The course of treatment is usually a minimum of 6 weeks but may be as long as 12 weeks. It is possible for the organism to remain in the body long-term leading to periodic flare-ups.
Whenever possible avoid areas likely to be infested with ticks. If you do frequent tick-infested areas, check yourself and your dog carefully for ticks once you leave. Your veterinarian can recommend some excellent tick control products that are safe for dogs.
A vaccination against Lyme disease is available for dogs. It is recommended for dogs living in areas where the disease is prevalent. Check with your veterinarian to see if your dog should be vaccinated.
Photo courtesy of Pediatric Associates of Connecticut.
--Dr. Hinson
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Dr. Hinson is a mixed animal veterinarian in Tampa, FL and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.
Jorge Guzman on June 26, 2009 at 04:59 AM
I feel the symptoms and treatment sections are not clear enough. It would be great to know under which symptoms we need to take them to the vet, what steps can we take at home to prevent lyme disease, and what symptoms can humans present.
Hank on June 26, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Jorge,
If your dog suddenly develops rear hip pain such that they moan and perhaps squeal when trying to get up, and there's no obvious reason, and if they don't seem to want to run anymore, get them checked.
That's what happened to our 7 year old black lab.
Regards.
bm on June 26, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Note that deer ticks can be extremely small (as small as this period-->. So check yourself carefully, they're not always as big as the tick in the picture.
Paul A'Barge on June 26, 2009 at 01:46 PM
If you live in the country get guinea fowl (birds). They eat the ticks.
Steve on June 26, 2009 at 02:35 PM
Understated in the article is that chronic, recurring symptoms are rather common. Unless massive antibiotics are administered at the outset of disease progression. The disease is under-diagnosed and the tests can frequently take a week or longer to produce results. As a result, victims frequently see the disease advance before getting effective treatment.
Lyme disease is endemic in PA and NJ. It verges on criminal negligence that neither state's health apparatus has taken aggressive steps to eradicate it. There are lots of options that have never been attempted. Just two off the top of my head: massive hunts to reduce the deer population, and spraying pesticides in rural areas.
DWPittelli on June 26, 2009 at 02:55 PM
The most appalling fact, not stated here, is that we have a vaccine, approved for dogs, but can't market it to humans: too much potential for legal liability. The F'ing lawsuit industry is directly responsible for everyone who catches Lyme disease.
Charles on June 26, 2009 at 04:22 PM
Forget vaccines. Forget antibiotics. Forget bug sprays. Collectively, they either unnecessarily trigger your immune system, weaken the species (human that is) or pollute the environment.
The single best method for the prevention of lyme disease is to prevent ticks from biting you, or your pet, in the first place.
How is that accomplished you may ask? In a word: garlic. Any old Connecticut Yankee can tell you an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
I live not too far from lyme disease 'ground zero' in a heavily wooded, very overgrown area of Connecticut. I add a little dehydrated fresh garlic to my labs dinner, daily, and when I intend to work outside, (mowing, gardening, felling trees and etc.) I consume a little myself.
Not only does it prevent ticks from biting, it keeps fleas off the old fella, (my dog) and "no see 'ems" off me.
And beyond that it's good for your circulation.
el scorcho on June 26, 2009 at 08:03 PM
I used to get vaccine shots in Austria for tick bites. It was supposed to vaccinate against Borrelia burgdorferi. I was surprised to find that the vaccine was not available in the US.
To Charles, I'm happy to know that garlic works, but it would be nice to have the vaccine for those of us who would choose it over garlic. I also got my vaccine shots for polio and diseases that garlic doesn't prevent and think they are great to have.
John Osborne on June 27, 2009 at 01:20 AM
Ticks are found just about everywhere - and not just on animals. A lady I know found one in a very sensitave place!
She did not have a tick remover with her so used Tea Tree natural Essntial Oil. The tick dropped off almost immediately she put one drop on its back. Tea Tree is natures antiseptic and anto biotic; immensely effective. You can get this oil almost anywhere, but we buy from www.natural-remedy.net. It is cheap and effective. A 10 ml bottle of Tea tree and a similar sized one of Lavender Oil are, with a box of plasters, about all anyone needs as a "holiday emergency pack".
stan marcus on June 28, 2009 at 07:36 PM
Garlic is akin poison to dogs and cats. Look it up.
Garlic does nothing to repeal fleas and ticks. Look it up.
Erik on June 29, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Garlic, when given to dogs in very high, very concentrated doses, can be poisonous to dogs. However, it is also just as beneficial to dogs as it is to humans. Not giving a dog garlic because it's poisonous to them is the appropriate response if you are giving your dog a couple hundred or more garlic bulbs a day. Some dried garlic in a bowl of food is not problematic at all.
That said, I think the Tea Tree and Lavender oils are probably more effective. There's also a neem-based parasite dust (you work it into a dog's fur) from Buck Mountain Botanicals which is very good as well.
stan marcus on June 30, 2009 at 10:13 PM
The ASPCA lists garlic as poison to dogs. It damages their red blood cells.
stan marcus on June 30, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Also, there is no evidence that fleas and ticks avoid garlic-infused dogs and cats.
That's just boobbait for the bubbas.
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tenerife holidays on October 11, 2009 at 11:49 PM
The disease is under-diagnosed and the tests can frequently take a week or longer to produce results. As a result, victims frequently see the disease advance before getting effective treatment.
p90x on April 29, 2010 at 07:33 PM
If you live in the country get guinea fowl (birds). They eat the ticks.
joesen on December 14, 2010 at 09:36 PM
The tick attaches to a host and feeds on it’s blood. While attached, it can spread Lyme disease through it’s saliva. Research has shown that in most cases, the disease is not transmitted until the tick has been attached to the host for 48 to 72 hours. Lyme disease is not spread directly from one person to another or from a dog to a person.